He died on Dec. 31 in Grady Hospital. His family says he was handcuffed to his hospital bed and not allowed to see his loved ones. They gathered at the DeKalb County Courthouse on Feb. 4, on what would have been Davis’ 45th birthday, for a protest and called for a Georgia Bureau of Investigations inquiry into the matter.

“He didn’t deserve what he got and I miss him every day,” his sister DeLisa said. “I want the GBI to open an investigation into the death of my brother.”

DeKalb County Police told Decaturish that they have informed the family that once the Police Department’s and District Attorney’s investigations are complete, they would ask the GBI to look into it if the family requests it.

According to a report filed by the backup officer says the officer arrived at Davis’ apartment at 100 Pinetree Circle and found a bloody, chaotic scene. When he came into the building, he heard the responding officer yell “drop the weapon.”

He found the first officer at the top of the stairs and Davis sitting on the ground in the doorway of his apartment. He was holding his chest saying, “I’ve been shot and can’t feel my legs.” Davis’ girlfriend, April Edwards, was shirtless and standing over him, crying. The responding officer told him there was a gun nearby. The backup officer saw a black revolver with a wood handle to the left of the entrance of the door.

Davis’ three-legged dog, Tooter, had also been shot dead by the officer, according to the police report and the account provided by family members.

Edwards explained she had gotten into an argument with her roommate, Terrance Hilyard. Both of them pulled knives out of the kitchen drawer, and Hilyard allegedly stabbed Edwards in the arm, which prompted the 911 call that brought police officers to their apartment.

The vigil for Davis linked his death to the shootings of other black men by police officer, like the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The protest ended with a camp out on the courthouse steps, with activists promising to be there when DeKalb County employees, prosecutors and judges arrive for work on Feb. 5.

Activists set up tents outside the DeKalb County Courthouse. Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

You don’t enter a building without announcing who you are. If this cop did that, then Davis may have dropped his weapon in advance (which he was using to protect his girlfriend). It appears the cop was ready to shoot first and ask question later. Training is required. Lastly, shooting a 3-legged dog…..the cop should have just kicked him out of the way..not shot the poor thing. Both Davis and his dog doing their jobs (protecting loved ones) and paid the ultimate price.

Bill Jones

I knew Kevin, and I am sad at his passing, but you are jumping to conclusions. We know the police walked up on a scene where people were stabbing one another and one had a gun. We don’t know what the officer did. Why did Kevin have a gun? Your assumption that the cop wanted to “shoot first and ask questions later” is unwarranted at this point.

I believe a few local ones have. The case is a little convoluted as well. Also, I believe the fact that it happened over a holiday – Dec. 29 – and the victim died two days later contributed to it being overlooked. People just tune out around the holidays. But we’re aware of it now so we’ll see where it goes.

Eric Strunz

Thank you, Dan, for reporting this important story. I can’t believe that this is the first I’m hearing about it. As engaged citizens, it falls to us to help demand a fair investigation, transparency, and accountability. This our home.

Artemis

Did the officer also claim this three legged dog had a gun? That tells much of this story. Clearly he went in planning to shoot. Or would they have us believe that a crippled dog was a threat?!

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